Finchley Central's broken lift will not be fixed until April

People are complaining after it was announced an underground station lift would not be fixed for five months.

Train users and politicians have spoken out about their frustration over a broken lift on the northbound platform at Finchley Central station, which, according to a notice from TfL, will not be fixed until late April.

The lift has been out of order since mid-December, and commuters will now be forced to continue their journey to High Barnet station before returning southbound to their destination.

John Trayner, a retiree who uses the station four or five times a week with his wife, Rosalie, said: "My wife has severe arthritis in her knee and finds stairs difficult.

"It's normal for lifts to break down from time to time but it's unacceptable for it to be out of action from mid December to late April.

"It’s also very inconvenient for parents with pushchairs."

London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore said: "It is completely unacceptable for a lift to take more than five months to repair. Finchley Central station is a very busy station used by many passengers in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs.

"It is extremely inconvenient for them to have to wait this long. Worse still I am appalled that there is a sign saying that those who require step-free access should go all the way to High Barnet to get off the train.

"This is insensitive and unhelpful."

This comes after it was announced Burnt Oak station will have a lift installed as part of a £200million investment, which will see 100 stations made step-free by 2022.

A TfL spokesperson said: "The lift on the northbound platform at Finchley Central is currently undergoing vital repair work and our engineers are working hard to have the work completed as quickly as possible.

"We apologise for the disruption that this essential work has caused to customers at the station."

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here